Lover’s Lamentation For the Girl He Left Behind Him; and Her Answer

(The Answer)

Ye maidens all, come pity me,
and be no more disdaining,
My love unto the war is gone,
And left me here complaining;
For now he’s sai’d out of the land,
and I am still repining,
Unto some distand land I’ll go,
for to see whether I can find him.

Or in some silent shade I’ll go,
to shelter all my mourning,
The tears ran tricklng down her cheeks
with grief, both night and morning.
The tales of love he told to me,
that he ne’er would decieve me,
It was this cruel wicked war,
which caus’d him for to leave me.

His cheeks were like the roses red,
his voice was sweet and clear;
There is no lad in all the world
to mine now can compare;
If I once more his face could see,
how happy should I be!
The sight of his dear smiling looks
would asswage my misery.

So in man’s array I’ll sail away,
for to find out my dear,
And when I come upon the seas,
no danger will I fear;
For let the storms be ne’er so long,
the cannon loudly rattle,
I’ll go to sea for my true love,
unto the field of battle.

And if my true love should be slain,
so boldly I’ll proceed in,
To fight with gun and sword in hand;
while my love lays a bleeding;
But if alive he should remain,
and him whom I adore,
I’ll bless the day I sail’d away,
to see my love once more.

Then may kind heaven be my lot,
and send these wars soon o’er,
Those lads may see their homes again,
and maids their love once more;
Success unto my own true love,
if ever I may find him,
As true unto his dearest dear,
as the girl he left behind him.

*Transcriber’s note: Dugaw’s catalogue contains multiple variants of this ballad; this is the first of the variants listed. To review other variants of this ballad, please consult the Dugaw catalogue.

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Other website link: Thomas Ballads